Check-protector



W. B. MURTHA.

CHECK PROTECTOR.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22, 1919.

1,356,548. Patented 001;. 26,1920.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER B. MURTHA, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Protectors, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to devices for protecting'checks and like documents against falsification, and its purpose is to provide an exceedingly simple device of this character, which can be manufactured at ver low cost and can readil be combined wit the ordinary check boo of pocket size or anyother size. In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, I have shown my invention as applied to, or combined with,

a pocket-size check book, but it is to be understood that this is an example only, and

that the use of my invention is not confined to check books, but that it may be used in any other connection where it is desired to protect certain writing, and especially figures, against falsification; it is also evident that my device need not be attachedto the check book, but may be designed and used independently of such book.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a check book of small size, with my protecting device attached thereto, and in closed pos1 tion; Fig. 2 shows the check book in open position; and Fig. 3 illustrates the manner of protecting a check against falsification, by means of my device.

In Figs. 1 and '2, A and B represent the upper and lower covers respectively hinged together in the usual manner and holdin between them a number of blank checks At their ed es opposite to the hinge, the covers are ormed with extensions A B respectively, that is, portions projecting beyond the edges of the checks C.

To the inner face of the cover portion A is secured a plate D, preferably made of sheet metal and having sharp prongs or points D extending toward the cover por-' tion B. As a convenient way of securing the plate to the cover, it may be mounted on a backin E of wood or the like, which may be glue to the inner face of the cover. To the inner face of the lower cover extension B'is preferably secured apad F made Specification of Letters Patent. Application fladOotober an, 1919. sewn in. $32,410.

Patented Oct. 26,1920.

'ofrubber or other resilient material, and of substantially the same size, or slightly lar rthan the plate D.

fter a check has been written and separated from the check book, it is placed over the pad D in such a manner that that portion of the check which is to be protected against falsification, will come to lie above the ad D. The, check book," lying on a firm sur ace such as a table, is then closed, and pressure exerted 'on the cover portion A from the outside. This pressure will cause the prongs D. to penetrate through the check and produce in the a perforations or indentations, the pad owing to its resiliency, facilitating such penetration. The check will then present the appearance indicated in Fig. 3, the fine dotted lines G indicating the perforations or indentations produced in the body of the check. These perforations, while not distortin the writmg or rendering it illegible, wil nevertheless prevent the writing from being erased or altered; any attempt at erasing would tear the paper, and any alteration of the fi res would likewise be practically impossi le owing to the closeness of the-perforations.

y I have thus provided a very simple device which will effectively and surely protect a check or similar document against falsification.

While I have shown only the figures in i the line in the center bearing the amount written out in full, maybe perforated as well. This might be accomplished, for instance, by making two rows of perforations through said line, side by side, with the plate D, or I might provide a perforating plate along the u per or lower edge of the checkbook, of su cient length to perforate the whole line in one single operation.

If desired, the upper cover might be scored along the meeting line between the cover portions A and A, as indicated at H, to Th1s will insure a roper positioning of the perforating plate with respect to the pad rovide a hinge between these portions.'

protectwhether the book be still full of checks or almost emptiy.

As indicat above, I do not desire to invention, as defined in limit myself to a device connected with check-book, but I .have shown this only as 1. In'an article of the ela ssfdescribed,

two leaves hinged together along one edge, a resilient pad secured to the inside of one of said leaves at the outer end thereof, and a plate secured to the inside of the other leaf at the outer. end of said leaf, said plate having a roughened surface to cooperate with said pad to produce perforations or indentations on a sheet of paper placed between saidpad and said plate.

2. In combination with a check-book, 20 covers havin portions projecting beyond the edges of t e checks contained therein, a

resilient pad scoured to the inside of one of said promoting portions at the outer end thereof, and a erforating member secured to the inside of the other pro'ecting cover portion-at the outer end of sai portion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence-of two witnesses.

WALTER B. -MURTHA. 

